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Viewpoints [David Virtue's long but excellent summary]
VirtueOnline-News ^ | 7/18/2006 | David W. Virtue

Posted on 07/19/2006 12:28:45 PM PDT by sionnsar

"A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they become entrenched in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's call. A preaching that awakens, a preaching that enlightens - as when a light turned on awakens and of course annoys a sleeper - that is the preaching of Christ, calling: Wake up! Be converted!" by Oscar Romero. From THE VIOLENCE OF LOVE (Orbis, 2004)

"Propaganda and the growing acceptance of disordered lifestyles (pansexuality) contrary to human dignity are weakening the hearts and minds of people to the point of extinguishing the desire for ordered and peaceful coexistence. All this represents a threat to humanity, because peace is in danger when human dignity is not respected and when social co-existence does nor seek the common good." Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
www.virtueonline.org
7/18/2006

Theological liberalism slowly sucks out the oxygen of classical belief that produces passionate faith, said Peter Corney director of the Institute of Christian Leadership in Melbourne, Australia recently. He made this observation even as attendance in the Anglican Church in Melbourne had dropped from 50,000 in 1981 to 21,000 in 2006. He said the church needed a vital orthodoxy.

Mr. Corney might well have been speaking for the Episcopal Church USA which is also dying the death of a thousand cuts, its orthodox life blood slowly being sucked out of it by pansexualists, Via Media types, and men and women in purple who wouldn't be seen carrying a bible for fear of being called a fundamentalist.

As one wag noted, you know you're really an Episcopalian if you're watching "Star Wars" when they say, "May the Force be with you," you instinctively respond, "And also with you."

THE fear of growing schism in the Episcopal Church reached new heights last week when a number of orthodox diocesan bishops began hearing from liberal Via Media groups within their dioceses. From Central Florida to San Joaquin, from Dallas to Pittsburgh, the "Via Media" as it calls itself, began to flail at their bishops.

Representative of their mindset comes this from the Steering Committee of Via Media in Dallas to the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of Dallas, James Stanton: "We the undersigned are deeply disturbed by the Standing Committee's call (dated July 3, 2006) asking you to pursue "an appropriate realignment" or, if it becomes necessary, an "ordered and mutually respectful separation of congregations and dioceses" from the Episcopal Church."

"The Standing Committee has no canonical authority to speak for the Diocese nor is it authorized to act for the Diocese in this matter. As you have acknowledged, only the Convention of this Diocese can act on the "recommendations" of the Standing Committee and only the General Convention of the Episcopal Church can dissolve this Diocese. Quite apart from the legalities, the views of the Standing Committee are not representative of the Diocese as a whole."

Or this from the DIOCESE OF ALBANY Via Media, a diocese that has not even, as yet, committed itself to seeking alternative provincial oversight: "Which greater church? TEC? The Anglican Communion? The Anglican Communion Network? We urge you, as the elected representatives of all Episcopalians in this diocese, to state our allegiance clearly and boldly: The Diocese of Albany is and shall remain a loyal part of The Episcopal Church, which is an autonomous province within the Anglican Communion."

BUT allegations that three revisionist bishops might bring presentment charges against orthodox bishop John-David Schofield because he requested Alternative Episcopal Oversight, drifted into cyber space this week. VirtueOnline learned that bishops J. Jon Bruno (Los Angeles), William Swing (California), and James R. Mathes, (San Diego) are preparing to lay presentment charges on the Bishop of San Joaquin, fearing he will take his diocese out of The Episcopal Church. It would require "incredible inventiveness" said a couple of canon lawyers to VOL. You can read the story here or in today's digest. http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4468

Lying behind all these lawsuits like a cobra ready to spring is the Dennis Canon which is trying to reach into dioceses and not just parishes. Wrote one VOL reader, "the idea that whole dioceses could leave is theoretically a loophole in Dennis. Even so there will be litigation. Litigation is expensive and what's even nicer is that it destroys the old boy club." The Night of the Long Knives in the Episcopal Church is probably upon us.

The revisionist agenda is not backing down and will be coming after traditionalists with a vengeance, wrote another. LA Bishop Jon Bruno will be leading the charge, despite his earlier overtures toward reconciliation. The parishes that left with their properties really burned him but good, and the failure of the National Church to come to the rescue with money to fight them in the courts riles him.

Before taking holy orders, incoming Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori was a marine biologist, specializing in squids and octopi. Looking down the ranks of the Episcopal Church bishops, one cannot help reflecting that Bishop Schori's early experiences of dealing with invertebrates will prove very useful to her in her new post.

In the DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA some 22 orthodox parishes dither about their future in the Episcopal Church, but if even two leave, Truro Church and The Falls Church, they will take close to 4,500 dues paying Episcopalians with them. That's not chump change. Toss in the already departed Christ Church, Plano and you have close to 10,000 exiting Episcopalians. Truly God is not mocked.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN ANGLICAN scholar Dr. Michael Poon has written a response to the developments at GC2006 and offered some suggestions for a way forward in his article: "Gathering as the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church around Jesus Christ." You can read his reflections here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4457

THE Anglican Communion Institute has also offered some further reflections entitled "Our new Season of Anglican Maturing" which is posted at VOL's website: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4449 Note also Ephraim Radner's heartfelt plea for patience and the need for a slower gathering so that more 'orthodox Anglicans' can move together. http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4458

But if you have any doubt about the intensity of the battle read this from a Rev. David K. Fly:

Dear Friends,

The Very Rev. Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, recently said that there would be "civil war" in the Church of England if the Archbishop pushed through his plans for a Biblically conservative "covenant" that excluded the liberal wing of the Anglican Communion.

"We are on the brink of a breaking point in the Church of England," said Mr. Slee. "Liberals have been tolerant and permissive of other points of view and what they have to realize is that their liberality must be defended. I think we'll see over the next three or four years liberals worldwide beginning to work together to defend the true Anglican heart, which is broad, tolerant and generous and is under attack."

It is clear that the heart of Anglicanism is under attack in America, and it is time for a broad national movement to defend it. We are proposing a national meeting to be held in Washington in November 2006 that would coincide with the installation of our new Presiding Bishop. The purposes of our meeting would include the following:

* Affirming the Consecration of Gene Robinson and the full inclusion of Gay and Lesbian persons in the sacramental life of the church

* Affirming the Traditional Anglican value of national autonomy and toleration of views involving matters of church discipline

* Affirming the orthodoxy of our church and its adherence to the Chicago-Lambeth quadrilateral

* Opposition to all attempts at home and abroad to curb or demean this church, dismember it or evict it from the Anglican Communion

* Establish ties with national churches or groups abroad who are sympathetic to the American Church

The idea for this meeting originated with a group of former college chaplains who met during the General Convention in Columbus, but we need to widen the net.

Faithfully,

ON THE OTHER SIDE of the fence comes this from the DIOCESE OF TEXAS:

"Dear Coalition members,

Recently, at St. Martin's in Houston, thirty clergy members of our coalition met to discuss our present situation in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. After two hours of conversation we wrote a statement to present to our congregations and eventually to the diocese (and maybe beyond). It is a statement which we believe represents orthodox Christianity.

The statement reads as follows:

We, the undersigned clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church within the Diocese of Texas contend for the "faith once delivered to the saints," and, as disciples of Christ, believe that we are ever constrained by the plain sense of God's Written Word. We proclaim our allegiance to Jesus Christ, who alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Savior of all who call upon Him, and to His Word - the Bible.

We pledge that we will teach, both in doctrine and ethics, only that which is in accord with the Holy Scriptures. We will work to preserve an authentic witness to Jesus Christ and His Gospel in our parish families and in the communities in which God has most graciously placed us.

We make this statement humbly acknowledging that we are all sinners standing in need of God's mercy and forgiveness offered through the Cross of Christ.

We affirm our identity with the worldwide Anglican Communion, and we are committed to the development of an Anglican Covenant which affirms these beliefs as called for by The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We look forward to working with our own diocesan bishop, The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, and others committed to the same."

You can read the full story in today's digest or click here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4482

IF YOU think ECUSA has problems then read how bad things are in the DIOCESE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. A report in the Times Colonist says that of 53 Anglican churches on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands only 14 are healthy, 17 are at the crossroads, 11 need support, 10 face amalgamation or relocation and 5 face disestablishment or closure. The bankruptcy of liberalism indeed. That's probably the same recipe for a lot of ECUSA dioceses.

NEW CHURCH PLANTS are popping up all over the U.S. Holy Apostles Anglican Church is planting an Anglican church in Louisville., KY. The first service is Sunday, July 23, at 3:30 p.m. at the Marriott East Hotel-1903 Embassy Square Blvd., in Louisville.

"The purpose of the new church is to gather orthodox Anglicans of Central Kentucky as a community of faith, dedicated to spreading the Gospel as passed down from the apostles and the historic church," says its rector, The Rev. Kent Litchfield, the priest of Holy Apostles, and several parishioners have committed to help start the new congregation. Rev. Litchfield described the principles that will guide the new church, saying, "As Anglicans, we affirm the authority of God as revealed in Holy Scripture. We teach and abide by the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Communion. We recognize that church leaders are to lead moral and ethical lives and are to be examples of Christ in a fallen world. We similarly recognize that we are to love all people and condemn all sinful actions that would separate us from the love of God."

Two other new Anglican churches in Kentucky, St. Andrew's in Versailles and Apostles in Lexington are under the supervision of Anglican Ugandan bishops. A third church, St. Patrick's Anglican in Lexington, is part of the Anglican Mission in America which has several American bishops who serve under the authority of the Anglican archbishops of Rwanda and Southeast Asia.

And In the DIOCESE OF NEW YORK a new Orthodox Episcopal Church has opened for business in Manhattan, NY. It is a Network partner parish, an independent evangelical church in the Anglican tradition. The rector, John Mason, is from Sydney. The church is commended by J.I. Packer. What more needs to be said. Check out their website: www.christchurchnyc.com for time and place. "Christ Church is an independent church in the evangelical Anglican tradition. Anglicanism, one of the largest associations of Christian churches in the world, has its heritage in the Church of England." In the midst of Episcopal darkness rays of light can always be found.

Another ray of orthodox Episcopal light got featured in the New York Times this week. All Angels on the Upper West Side got favorably reviewed by the liberal NYT. Read the story here and follow the link. http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4481

And in the DIOCESE OF LONG ISLAND comes this from Fr. David Leo. "I am now the rector of the 300 year old Parish of St. James in Queens. Our Parish recently left ECUSA and we are now in litigation over our property and assets with the Diocese of Long Island. We are a place of refuge where people can worship. I know many agonize over leaving the Canterbury Communion, which I can understand as one who had to leave the Old Catholics because of the directions they are going in." The stately parish can be located in Elmhurst, Queens, NY.

And out the door the door they go. St. John's in Fallbrook California announced it was leaving ECUSA and coming under an African bishop. Its 165 members no longer Episcopalians. You can read the full story here: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4483

ON A PERSONAL note comes this.

Dear...

As of Wednesday, July 12, Jim met with pastor and announced our resignation from the Episcopal Denomination. Pastor asked Jim to write a letter requesting same. We no longer wish to read the ongoing pagan theology. It is hard to imagine that this is really taking place. I am so proud of my husband for standing up for Jesus and for the Inspired Word of God. A friend said to me after listening to my story over a month ago: Louise, Jesus said: "Follow Me!" He also said: "When it comes to the Word of God, It is non-negotiable." We live in a time when the sky is darkening. You can duplicate this letter in one form or another from dozens of Episcopalians across the country as they leave ECUSA.

In the DIOCESE OF MASSACHUSETTS, Bishop Tom Shaw picketed the Israeli Embassy last week according to a report in the Boston Globe. He's done this before. It is not the first time. His pro-Arab like his pro-gay sympathies are well established.

In a prepared statement, Shaw said the destruction of the electrical generators and other actions by the Israeli army are "endangering the life, health and safety of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims." In addition to the bombing, Bishop Shaw referred to an incident over the weekend in which an Episcopal priest attempted to wire $5,000 to the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza, but could not confirm that the transmission had been successful. "We cannot let the most vulnerable people suffer as a result of this deliberate destruction of the infrastructure," he said.

Terrorism against Israel must stop, but the bombing of a Palestinian power plant is unlikely to contribute toward that objective, said Shaw who with several Episcopal priests joined with some 100 other protesters in front of the Israeli consulate in Boston.

But Shaw's anti-Israeli blast brought rejoinders from some VOL readers: "The eternal hypocrite. He cites the number of Israeli troops, tanks, and guns used but he never mentions the long list of murdered and butchered Israeli men, women, and children that have brought us to this point. He stands silent when the murder and butchering of innocents take place, but he publicly speaks out over Israel defending herself. He stands silent while Islamic terrorists murder and butcher innocent men women and children around the world, but praises those who send the murderers to different parts of the world to do their evil deeds. He stands silent while hundreds of thousands of babies are killed in this nation and around the world every year, but that's OK because abortion is acceptable in his church."

The Bishop of the DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA, Charles E. Jenkins III has come out on the right side of the angels. In a statement to his diocese he said this: "As Bishop of Louisiana, I have received with interest and gratitude the June 27, 2006, statement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, "The Challenge and Hope of Being an Anglican Today." I commend this statement to my brothers and sisters in Christ in Louisiana for prayerful study, reflection, and consideration. I wish to make clear my intention that this diocese remain tomorrow as we are today; a constituent member (as described by the Archbishop's statement) of the Anglican Communion. The statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury has set forth some ideas for the future of relationships within the Anglican Communion based upon the idea of covenant. In time, these thoughts may be embodied in institutional proposals for the structuring of institutional relationships within and between member Churches of our Communion. Yet, it is important to note that, at this point, the Archbishop has not asked for institutional responses to his thoughts. His statement does provide an opportunity for member Churches of the Anglican Communion, as well as their Provinces and Dioceses, to reflect upon and indicate whether they hold as a priority to remain constituent members of the Anglican Communion, and thereby make an effort to be responsive to the vision, ideals and goals of the Lambeth Commission as set forth in the Windsor Report. My response as Bishop of Louisiana indicates such a priority."

FROM the website of the Scottish Episcopal Church comes this: "The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Dr Idris Jones, welcomes the election of the Rt Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori as the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America."The American and Scottish Episcopalian churches have a relationship defined by our history. I look forward to working with Bishop Katharine to sustain the life of the Anglican Communion; and to identify those areas which will help us to make this connection between us a living and developing reality in the life of both our churches. We shall continue to hold the Episcopal Church and its newly elected Presiding Bishop in our prayers.'"

RESOURCES: As the lines become more sharply drawn in The Episcopal Church, VOL would like to offer its readers some helpful resources to face the future.

ALPHA is a ten-week course that introduces people to the basics of the Christian faith. It is a great guide to evangelism and church growth for those charismatically inclined. You can access their information at their website here: http://alpha.org/

CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED is a ten-week course through Mark's gospel. It sets out to introduce people to Jesus Christ, and makes disciples of Christ through intense Bible study and final commitment. CE was written by Rico Tice, Barry Cooper and Sam Shammas. They are all members of All Souls' Langham Place, London. This is a non-charismatic alternative to ALPHA.

LIFEBUILDERS ESSENTIALS. A discipleship course for men, co-authored with Patrick Morley, author of The Man in the Mirror. Wrote Don C. Warrington: "We use the 39 Articles as part of our instruction on the church and on its doctrine. The relationship between Anglican and classical Pentecostal doctrines is not well understood but is important in the development of non-Catholic Christianity after the Reformation, especially as it relates to perseverance and sanctification." Their website can be located at: www.lifebuilders.to

IN TODAY'S stories, I have written a piece on Why The Nigerians Refused Rowan Williams' Peace Plan. The Nigerians have moved to center stage in the struggle for orthodoxy in the Anglican Communion and their words need to be watched and weighed as developments unfold.

Lord Carey was scheduled to visit a parish in the Diocese of Washington and address Episcopalians on the state of the Anglican Communion but cancelled at the last moment. Was this a lack of courage on his part? If you're not sure then read: Hell Hath No Fury Liked Liberals Scorned, it'll make you glad you are on the safe (if somewhat rocky side) of the church.

For the best wrap up of General Convention 2006 PLEASE hit the following links. Mrs. Auburn Faber Traycik, editor of The Christian Challenge has written the best 10,000 word summary plus a special report on the Windsor Report available to date: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4475 http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4476

VOL can now report that at the height of General Comvention some 43,000 persons were going daily to the website.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO VIRTUEONLINE'S NEW READERS. We at VOL continue to grow and we want to welcome new readers over the past month. The digest comes weekly to your e-mail and new stories are posted daily to the website: www.virtueonline.org. It is all free of charge. Truth has no copyright, but it does require your support for us to press on.

VOL depends on its readers for financial support. We are a 501(c)3 Copyright organization and for our sins we need to beg. The fall out from General Convention is growing weekly and we are documenting it for all our readers in 45 countries. More than 3 million have already accessed our website.

Please make a tax deductible donation to:

VIRTUEONLINE
1236 Waterford Rd.,
West Chester, PA 19380

OR you can make a donation through PAYPAL at the website: www.virtueonline.org

Thank you for your support.

All blessings,

David W. Virtue DD

BREAKING NEWS…VirtueOnline spoke with retired Bishop William J. Cox on Tuesday and confirmed that he was facing an ecclesiastical investigation for ordaining two priests and a deacon in Overland Park, Kansas at the request of the Archbishop of Uganda Henry Luke Orombi last July. Cox is the former assisting Bishop of Oklahoma. The two priests were part of an Episcopal congregation, Christ Church, in the Diocese of Kansas which left the diocese and ECUSA after agreeing to pay the bishop and diocese $1 million over the next ten years as part of a separation agreement.

LISTSERV PROBLEMS: The computer that hosts the ListServ software that is used by VOL to create the weekly digest suffered a hardware failure early this week. The system owners are still working on it and hope to have it restored within a few days. For this week's digest we are using some alternate software and a slightly older copy of the subscription list. The impact for some of readers is that you may not receive this week's digest or it may come to you in a slightly different format.Also note that each week's digest of stories is posted to the VOL website: http://www.virtueonline.org. Select "Weekly Digests" from the menu on the left column. Thank you for your patience as we work to restore our normal service.


TOPICS: Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS:
"Liberals have been tolerant and permissive of other points of view..." What has Slee been smoking???
1 posted on 07/19/2006 12:28:50 PM PDT by sionnsar
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To: ahadams2; secret garden; MountainMenace; SICSEMPERTYRANNUS; kaibabbob; angeliquemb9; ...
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar, Huber and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
More Anglican articles here.

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

2 posted on 07/19/2006 12:29:39 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d, N0t Y0urs | NYT:Jihadi Journal)
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To: sionnsar
What has Slee been smoking???

Probably hyperbolic rodomontade.

3 posted on 07/19/2006 12:41:04 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Tax-chick

LOL. Forgot what that is, but when I googled it, you turned up!


4 posted on 07/19/2006 12:57:26 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d, N0t Y0urs | NYT:Jihadi Journal)
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To: sionnsar

Oh, how funny. I'm a legend now!


5 posted on 07/19/2006 1:06:01 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Tax-chick

You always were... *\;-)


6 posted on 07/19/2006 1:07:30 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d, N0t Y0urs | NYT:Jihadi Journal)
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To: sionnsar

That was an interesting article, when I got through it. It amazes me that some of these liberal "Christians" aren't struck by lightning, when they come out with their bizarre statements.


7 posted on 07/19/2006 1:55:20 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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To: Tax-chick

You should see what goes on behind the scenes on mailing lists and in blogs. It is not a pretty sight.


8 posted on 07/19/2006 2:03:10 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† | Iran Azadi | SONY: 5yst3m 0wn3d, N0t Y0urs | NYT:Jihadi Journal)
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To: sionnsar

I don't have the stomach for it, I'm afraid.


9 posted on 07/19/2006 2:16:01 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Whiskey for my men, hyperbolic rodomontade for my horses.)
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